Super Basic 430 EX II question

I do mostly sports photography but this season have started assisting with weddings before taking on some weddings on my own next year. To date I have gotten by with fast glass/modern sensors and basic bounce flash when shooting receptions. By and large I and the studios I shoot with have been pleased with the results of this.

I'm now to the point where I want to get a bit more creative with OCF. I currently own 2 430 EX IIs that I intend to make my OCF units for a 3 light set up. My question is this: the wireless receiver is already built into the 430 EX II, correct? I am aware that these guys can only serve as slave units and so if I were to pick up a pair of 600s, there's no extra transceiver I need to attach to the 430s?

I know this is super basic and thank you in advance for the confirmation.

The "600s" have two versions. Both work with optical wireless just like the 430s. No extra transceiver needed for the 430s. (Of course, you'll need to use a flash as a master to control the others, though).

Recall 430s are line of sight wireless, so your set up will be limited by line of sight limitations.

No, the 430ex have no built in radio trigger. They use canons optical tiggering system which isnt particularly well suited to weddings. Rather than pick up 600s just look at the yn622c tiggers and a couple more speedlites. If you want 600s you pretty much need to go all in with that technology and forget the 430s.

As others have said, the 430s have the optical slave built in to them. However, they only work with Canon's master slave system, it won't work as a general optical slave from any flash. Some Canon cameras (mostly the newer ones) have the master functionality built into the pop up flash, but if your camera doesn't, you can use a 550, 580 or 600 flash as a master (check which version of the 600 though, I believe there are two versions. One has the new radio functionality built in alongside the optical slave functionality, the other version only has one, and I'm not sure which system it has).

I've created a tutorial for using the Canon wireless flash system, which you can read here: https://drive.google.c​om …SMnM0WFE/view?u​sp=sharing

mikewinburn wrote in post #17702987
The "600s" have two versions. Both work with optical wireless just like the 430s. No extra transceiver needed for the 430s. (Of course, you'll need to use a flash as a master to control the others, though).

Recall 430s are line of sight wireless, so your set up will be limited by line of sight limitations.

Not true. Canon's visible light flash commander works quite well with reflected light, INDOORS. I can put my BG unit on the floor, behind a table, or any other type of obstruction. I have never had the system fail to fire a flash hidden behind furniture and such in an indoor shot. It matters where the head of the commander unit is pointed.

Outdoors, with nothing to reflect off of, they are quite useless.

The YN-622 system can be a great supplement outdoors.

Great, thanks for the responses everyone.
I will be getting the 600-RTs with the thought of eventually replacing my current 430 IIs with 430 IIIs

MBB89 wrote in post #17703277
Great, thanks for the responses everyone.
I will be getting the 600-RTs with the thought of eventually replacing my current 430 IIs with 430 IIIs

Are the 430 III units going to work with the radio triggering?

Tiberius wrote in post #17703303
Are the 430 III units going to work with the radio triggering?

The 430EXIII-RT will have radio triggering built-in.
http://www.usa.canon.c​om …up/speedlite_43​0ex_iii_rt

Thanks for the specifics it does reinforce my intention to note the 430s are limited without radio triggering, while being more exact.

DGStinner wrote in post #17703314
The 430EXIII-RT will have radio triggering built-in.
http://www.usa.canon.c​om …up/speedlite_43​0ex_iii_rt

Nice.

I have been usinga 7d2, 430ex ii, and yn622 for a while and love them. Excellent flexibility. Definitely worth a look.

You can control the power setting, also ttl/hss of the 430EXII from a 600RT flash with adding the YNE3 RX receiver to the 430EXII.
But the 600RT I used is the clone from YongNuo, that is YN600RT.
You can ask flashhavoc.com to know if YNE3 RX works with Canon 600RT

I have the YN622 system. Works like a charm.

MBB89 wrote in post #17703277
Great, thanks for the responses everyone.
I will be getting the 600-RTs with the thought of eventually replacing my current 430 IIs with 430 IIIs

I have 3 600's and canons ST-E3. I love it. No additional triggers required. Group mode is awesome.

If in a studio situation I use the ST-E3 on the camera triggering the 3 flashes. In a darker venu like a reception I may set up up the two additional flashes. If I do then I use the 3rd 600 to trigger the other 2. Also since the ST-E3 does not have an AF assist beam I use the flashes AF assist. I actually prefer it because I still like to bounce if I can as the two flashes on the outsides bouncing off walls, etc may not have the power to illuminate the subject enough.

YN's version of the ST-E3 has AF assist but I have read mixed reviews about how effective it is. The 430 III would be perfect for the on camera flash. Lighter, smaller and you still have bounce flash. I'm actually very surprised canon offered it as the YN 600 RT is less expensive.

Not sure if this is important to you but Canon RT does not offer off camera 2nd curtain sync while YN does.